Meditation on 1 Corinthians 13

It happens around this time of year, the greeting card aisles turn pink. The cards, decked out in a rich variety of red hues, proclaim a message of love. Love is… Love is passion, romance, burning desire, a rush of emotions tumbling like the waters of a flood. Or, love is pleasant, a warm feeling for a friend, appreciation for a gift, a positive thought for another. Love can also be humorous, awkward, embarrassing, stressful, or in some cases, simply lacking. In short, the cards tell us that love is a multifaceted state of emotion.

The lesson from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians offers a different image of love.
“Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Cor. 13: 4-8, NRSV translation)

This message sounds beautiful, even inspiring, but on closer examination, it paints a different picture than love found in the greeting cards. True love calls us to be patient when things do not go our way; to be kind even when others are insistent, or demanding. This kind of love deflates the ego, and leads us to be servants at heart, willing to make sacrifices for another’s good. This love requires strength, endurance, and a willingness to hold fast to hope, even in the darkest moments of life in relationship. Far from being an emotion, feeling or rush of hormones, true love is action. Love is hard work.

I believe the apostle Paul based his description of love on the character and actions of God, as they have been revealed in relation to God’s people Israel. Even before his conversion experience, Paul was a student of scripture, and the stories of God in scripture are of a God who is patient from generation to generation, long suffering, faithful, humble, generous, life giving, enduring and filled with hope. When Paul encountered the risen Christ, he experienced the full measure of his loving grace. He saw that hope fulfilled in person. Paul knew love in a different way.

When I look at the description of love in Corinthians, it is humbling. I am not sure I can give such love. I know I can’t. But when I look at it purely as a description of the way God loves -has loved and will continue to love- us, I see it differently. In this light, love ceases to be a burden. Love is a gift. It is not a gift that I can summon up by will power or determination, but a simple grace flowing from God. The challenge for any of us is not to give love out of our own limited resources, but to allow the eternal love of God to fill our hearts and our lives so that we may overflow with the love of God- and simply love.


The Rev. Earnest Graham
St. John’s Episcopal Church
Suffolk VA
Jan. 31, 2010

Snow alert

The Sunday Worship for today, Jan. 31st has been cancelled due to the snow.
We wish you all a safe, warm day today. Fr. Earnest will post his meditation on the website today.
Blessings and peace to you.

Upcoming Events: Pancake Supper

The traditional Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper is coming.

Tuesday Feb. 16th, 5pm-7pm

Come enjoy a meal cooked by someone else for a change. Suggested donation is $5/person, $15 for families. More information to come.

Selection

Selecting greens

History of St. John's

For nearly four centuries, St. John's Church has sought to lead women and men in expressing the Christian Spirit. It continues to be an active Episcopal Church, opening its doors to all peoples.

The roots of St. John's Church go back to the earliest English settlements along the Nansemond River. The present church, constructed in 1755, is the third on the site. Its walls are solid brick, twenty-five inches thick. The center aisle is paved with blocks of limestone from England.

The Chancel, installed in the 1880's has elaborate wainscoting and carvings. The colored glass windows date from the same period.

St. John's Church has in its possession an original eighteenth century Vestry Book, and Bible.

In 1728, St. John's joined the Glebe Church, Driver, to form Suffolk Parish. This association continued until March 1, 1998, when each congregation became an independant Parish.On Sundays and Holy Days the congregation of St. John's Church gathers for worship. Visitors are warmly invited to worship and participate in this active congregation.

Directions to St. John's

St. John's is located at 828 King's Highway, Suffolk, VA 23432- in the village of Chuckatuck.

From Route 10-
turn on to King's Highway going in the direction of the river.There is a sign that says to Hobson. Travel on King's Highway.There will be a fork in the road at (Crittendon),stay right and continue on King's Highway. St. John's will be a little further down the road, on the left.

From Route 17 -
Turn onto Crittendon Road, and follow it to the end, where it meets King's Highway.
Turn Left onto King's Highway. St. John's is a short distance along the road, to the left.